William h



(No Model.)

' W. H. PORTER.

TOP FOB. DESKS.

PatentedApr. 2, i8 89..

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M INI M dillllll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM H. PORTER, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TOP FOR DESKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,871, dated April 2,1889.

Application filed July '7, 1888- Serial No. 279,300. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PORTER, of the city of WVashington, inthe District of Columbia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in the Manufaci u: e of Tops for Desks, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanyingdrawings.

The object of my invention is to provide means for economically andsecurely fastening a cloth upon a desk or table top.

Ordinarily desk-tops are composed of framepieces for the edges of acentral panel, which is covered with green baize. oil-cloth, leather, orsome such fabric. The cloth or other covering material is glued to thecentral panel and usually covered at its edges with a binding which isliable to get loose. I provide a different means of fastening, and Ialso make my central panel in a different way from what has heretoforebeen practiced, as I will now proceed to explain in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a perspective view of a partof a table-top made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a section ofone side, showing the rib and cloth in place. Fig. 3 is a sectional Viewshowing a formal modification with the rib and cloth left out.

A indicates the frame-work of a desk-top forming its edges, consistingof four pieces mitered or otherwise united at the corners in the usualway.

B indicates the central panel. This panel I prefer to form by securingtogether pieces of matched stuff until the proper size of the panel isattained. I then form a tongue all around the edge of the panel, andupon the side which is to be the upper surface of the panel and receivethe cloth coverI preferably make the cut deeper or widersay aboutone-fifth of an inch-than upon the lower side, as shown in cross-sectionin Fig 2. I form the groove D in the frame-pieces in the usual manner tofit the tongue upon the panel. After the panel has been fixed in placein the frame composed of the edge pieces, there will be left a groove,

E, all around the upper part of the panel. I could form the groove E bycutting away the upper wall of the groove in the frame, as shown in Fig.3; but that is not preferable. I then place the cloth cover in position,preferably smoothing it out and securing itby glue or paste to thepanel, and cut it all around its edges to the proper size by running acutter in the groove E. This leaves the edge of the cloth projecting outall around over the groove more or less, according to the place of thecut, as may be desired. I then force the cloth into this groove by meansof a close-fitting rib, F, which, when in place, forms an ornamentalbead around the margin of the frame resembling a bead made upon theframe-pieces by a suitable tool. The rib may be glued in place; butgenerally it is sufficient to secure it with very small brads, or leaveit snugly fitted without fastening, so that it can be removed easilywhenever it is desired to remove the cover and renew it.

This construction is very cheap to manufacture, and it affords a veryneat and excellent fastening for the cloth cover of the desk. 1

I am aware that a rib as a holder, broadly considered, is not new, andthat a groove and rib have been used in chair-bottoms, for example, andmy invention does not consist, broadly, therefore, in the use of agroove and a rib; but

WVhat I claim to-be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In the manufacture of a desk-top, the combin ation of the grooved frameA and the panel B, tongued all around its edges, the wood being cut awayon the upper side, as described, so that when the panel is in positionin the frame a rib-recess will be left between the frame and panel forfastening the cloth cover in place, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WVILLIAM I-I. PORTER.

Witnesses: Y

MARCUS S. HOPKINS, O. P. ELWELL.

